"Retirement ages will have to move to 70, 80 years old," he said. “That would make pensions, medical services more affordable. They will keep people working longer and will take that burden off of the youth.”

For his part, the 68-year-old AIG chief told the company’s shareholders late last year that he planned to stay on longer than he originally anticipated.

Though Benmosche’s comments were directed at Europe, American workers may also be working well into their golden years. Already one quarter of middle-class Americans expect to retire when they’re 80, not 65, according to a Wells Fargo survey from November.